Sewage backup in a Hemet home
Water that comes up through a drain is contaminated. Keep people and pets out of it, and call to reach an independent contractor who handles sewage loss.
Tap to call. Say your ZIP code and what happened.
Treat it as contaminated
Sewage water can carry bacteria and other material. Children, pets and anyone with a weak immune system should stay out of the affected rooms. Do not wade through it without protective boots and gloves.
Do not run washers, dishwashers or showers while a drain is backed up, since every gallon you add goes to the same blocked line.
Is it your pipe or the agency's?
A blockage in the line inside your property is yours to clear. A blockage in the public main in the street is the sewer agency's. A quick test is to check whether neighbors have the same problem, or whether the fixture closest to the floor drain is the only one backing up.
Eastern Municipal Water District lists sewer blockages among the emergencies its operations center takes. The agency page does not say where its responsibility ends and yours begins, so ask at the time of the call.
What the cleanup involves
Remove the water and solids
Wet vacuums and pumps take out liquid, and contaminated material is bagged.
Remove what cannot be cleaned
Porous materials such as carpet, pad and lower drywall are cut out, because they hold contamination.
Clean and disinfect
Hard surfaces are washed with cleaners suited to sewage.
Dry and rebuild
The structure is dried and checked with a meter before finishing begins.
Insurance and sewage
Many home policies treat water that backs up through a drain differently from water that comes from a burst pipe. Some insurers sell a water backup endorsement. Ask your insurer whether yours has one before you assume anything.
The insurance guide covers the general rules.
Common questions
Can I clean up sewage myself?
Small, shallow events are sometimes handled by homeowners with proper protection. Anything that reached carpet, walls or more than a small area should go to a contractor.
Who do I call first?
If the main line may be blocked, call the sewer agency or a plumber. For the cleanup, call the number on this page.
Water in the house right now?
Call, give your ZIP code, and say what happened. You will be connected with an independent restoration contractor. Calling early gives you more choices than calling after the damage has spread.
(951) 507-1096